A Dutch Garden Center (with a French Allure)

A couple of days ago I decided to visit one of the local garden centers in my village, in order to be in contact witth the beauty of the new plants that arrive on Monday afternoons. I also wanted to check the new pots, vases, arrangements, statues and other articles. Maybe I would even buy something to cheer me up - although my house is already full !

There are a lot of French words and expressions on the furniture and pots this year. I remember years ago you would see rather Spanish and Italian. So instead of "Côte D'Azur"on a chair, you would spot "Costa Brava", "Las Canarias", or in Italian "La Bella Olanda", "La Vita è Bella", "Dolce Far Niente" writen - or things like that.

Sometimes it is difficult to find the border between "sweet" (above) and "tacky" (below).

Above the most expensive item in this garden center: the statue above. I am not sure about the material it is made of, probably zinc ? I'd rather prefer very heavy concrete and another theme. Surely not a figure holdin a weapon...

OMG, what nonsense is that ? Hahaha !  

Above, an idea that pleases me a lot: the support is from an original Singer sewing machine - with a marble top. It looks like one million ! If this was on sale, I would make an offer.

Well, I entered in this garden center in or der to sniff around for something special. I was not very sure about what I was looking for, I like concrete vases and images, for instance. There were some plants, like an olive tree, that I like A LOT - but it doe'sn't survive to an intense frost in Holland. (It was advised on a label that you should keep the little olive tree in a big concrete pot and remove the plant into your garage during the winter months. Oh, such an impractical plant to be kept in a cold country).  Finally, I have found something sweet and different that I ended up purchasing for my little girl. Have a look:

I think I can do a better mix that these above - I plan to use some leaves, herbs and a couple of mini roses.

New Arrivals

Lately I have been so busy with my backyard in the new house that almost every day I have to pass by a garden center in order to buy something (earth, mostly) . When I saw their new arrivals I thought immeditaly of this room I had seen in a Brazilian blog. The parents decided to pick the theme "bird houses" for a girls bedroom. Then a couples's friend simply bought bird houses and covered them with different fabrics:

And then I saw this baby room with a big tree in Fabiana Martins' blog:

 

I guess people are becoming bolder with baby's room. One big piece of art on the wall (a group of bird houses or a really big tree such as above) and that's it. No more wall paper with little bears, trains, etc.

Bird houses go also well adorning a breakfast area. Photo above: Achados de decoração blog.

And these are the bird houses I have seen in the garden center in my village (one of the "new arrivals" I talked about in the first paragraph of this post). If you are crafty these are pretty ideas to be copied and decorate a baby room :

Aren't they delicate for a child's room ? I think they will like it. (Or maybe my mom is going to keep them for her office ?)

Update 08th April:

Seen at the Bijenkorf today, a DIY birdhouse from Silly Gifts at 6 euros.

Silly Gifts can be found at: www.silly.nl

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Playing With Your Food

Bilingual post (English - Portuguese)

Because this couple is expecting a baby for 11/11/11 I have already started to search for a pretty gift. My parents are coming to Holland in July/Aug. and I will send via them something special to my brother - I mean, his baby.

Because I still do not know whether it is a boy or a girl, I preferred to opt for a "neutral" present. I am enjoying so much the news about this baby... I am going to by an aunt again ! On the other side, it is sad that I will not follow his/her growing up phases. The downside of living abroad...

Below, I photographed some examples from the package box to give you some ideas of how to be creatie with food presentation for kids:

Who said kids shouldn't play with the food on their plates ?
The plate cost me15 euros at this amazing department store.
Many discounts up to 12th of April.

Como meu rimão esta ligeiramente grávido (calculado para 11/11/11) eu já fiquei toda animada para enviar algo especial aqui da Holanda. Meus pais vem me visitar  no verão e levam de volta um presentinho pro baby. Decidi optar por algo “neutral” já que não sei se e’ menino ou menina. Na Bijenkorf (uma loja de departamentos com várias filiais pelo país)  encontrei esses pratinhos de porcelana por 15 euros, resistentes a máquina de lavar e ao forno. Na caixa da embalagem há varias sugestões de carinhas com comida. Em casa, eu fotografei bem de perto os exemplos de carinhas para que as pessoas possam copiar as idéias. Uma especie de "tutorial", hahaha ! Acho que meu rimão e cunhada vão adorar.

(Agora... quem disse que criança não deve brincar com a própria comida ? )

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Claufoutis Au Chocolat [Kersen Chocoladeclafoutis]

Sinterklaas (translation: my mother-in-law) really knows about my tastes - literally ! Last year I got from "him" this little book above, which has become very popular in Holland: "500 Recipes with Chocolate: delicious recipes for simple and sofisticated desserts with chocolate as main ingredient." I use it a lot since then, very handy ! Now, I am not crazy about chocolate - I prefer cheese - but I do love culinary art books and I do like cooking for others. That said I will share with you a very easy and classic recipe- the French Clafoutis - but with a twist: chocolate (of course !).

Papai Noel (aham, leia-se "minha sogra") realmente sabe dos desejos e preferências das pessoas. Ano passado eu ganhei "dele" esse livrinho: 500 Receitas com Chocolate, receitas deliciosas para sobremesas simples e /ou grandiosas com chocolate. Uso sempre ! Eu não sou louca por chocolate (tenho loucura sim por diferentes queijos) mas eu adoooro livros de arte de culinária e adoooro fazer sobremesas para as pessoas. Dito isso - e eu adoro clarificar as coisas - vou mostrar pra vocês aqui uma receitinha francesa clássica chamada clafoutis mas com uma variação: chocolate (óbvio). A receita é bem facinha !

You will need:

50g butter

3 spoons of flour

2 spoons cacao powder

3 large eggs, beaten

60g very fine crystal sugar

4 1/2 dl milk

1 spoon of rum (of your choice)

700g dark cherries, washed and without stones

(note: 1 spoon = 15 ml)

50g de manteiga

3 colheres (sopa) de far. de trigo

2 colheres (sopa) de cacau em pó de ótima qualidade

3 ovos grandes, batidos (de preferência bio)

60g de açúcar cristal

4 1/2 dl (=450ml) de leite

1 colher (sopa) de rum a escolha (ou outro licor)

700g de cereja sem caroço

(1 colher de sopa = 15 ml)

Preheat the oven at 220C /gas mark 5.

Spread generously some butter in the bottom and sides of an ovenproof dish.

Sieve the flour and the cacao in a bowl. Pour the eggs and the sugar and mix them well. Warm up the milk in a pan until it is tepid (and not boiling hot). Add the milk and the rum to the mix in the bowl and mix well again.

Spread the cherries in the bottom of the ovenproofdish and pour slowly the cream. Spread some pieces of butter on the top of the dessert and insert the dish in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes until it is firm. Take it out of the oven, spread some sugar on top and serve immediately.

You can also have this dish cold, but straight out of the oven is better. Serves 6-8 persons.

Pré-aqueça o forno a 220C
Unte generosamente o fundo e a lateral da forma que irá ao forno com parte da manteiga. Peneire o trigo e o cacau juntos numa tigela. Acrescente os ovos ligeiramente batidos e o açúcar. Mexa. Aqueca um pouco o leite até ficar morno. Acrescente o leite e o rum mexendo bem a massa até tudo ficar bem misturado.
Espalhe as cerejas no fundo da forma untada e despeje a massa por cima. Coloque pedacinhos de manteiga por cima da massa e leve ao forno por 25 a 30 minutos até ficar firme. Retire do forno, polvilhe com açúcar e sirva imediatamente. Você pode servir o clafoutis frio, mas quentinho saído do forno é bem melhor ! Serve 6 a 8 pessoas.

It became just like the photo from the book and veeery delicious. If you like to order it:
500 Chocolate Delights, by Lauren Floodgate
ISBN 978 90 5920 905 3
Price around 10euros in The Netherlands


O clafoutis ficou bem macio, com a consistência entre a de um bolo e de um pudim. Ficou tão bom, mas tão bom, que não sobrou nadica de nada. Mais esperta que a maioria das ursas tratei logo de fazer uma foto antes que o pessoal raspasse tudo ! Recomendo essa sobremesa agora no inverninho brasileiro, principalmente no sul do país onde deve ser mais fácil achar cerejas.

SENZ Umbrella [antistorm paraplu]

Facts of life in the Netherlands:

1) In Holland it rains and winds a lot.

2) The Dutch are world masters about water engineering.

Therefore...

They developed an anti-storm paraplu. I am not kidding. Such thing is called SENZ Storm Paraplu. It costs around 50 euros, will never break or go inside out, gives good vision and is beautiful. You can purchase one at : www.senzumbrellas.com or click here to see some little funny films. I especially like "SENZ and the City" one.

I loved it. I need one (hint) ; )

Esses holandeses são mesmo danados: desenvolveram um tipo de guarda-chuva que não se quebra nem se inverte durante ventos e tempestades. Também da boa visão e tem design bacana. Ele é comercializado por SENZ. Vá ate o site (em inglês) para ver melhor a descrição do produto e alguns filminhos muito divertidos (Clique nas palavras em vermelho acima ou aqui). Custa cerca de 50 euros e tem tamanho pequeno, médio e grande. Beeem carinho, mas olha: eu compro uns dois a quatro guardas-chuva (o plural se escreve como ?) por ano na base de 7 euros cada. Faz as contas...

Plastic Fantastic [Kitsch Kitchen]

A while ago I was strolling in Egmond aan zee when from a distance I already recognized these bags from Kitsch Kitchen. They were being exposed on furniture on the street.

I was familiar with that shop in Egmond. They sell Oilily, Kitsch Kitchen and lots of charming women accessories, especially French vintage rings and necklaces and a lot of "bling-bling". But I would like to talk about Kitsch Kitchen in this post.

I think the first time I spotted a Kitsch Kitchen product was a decade ago. I was observing bags that some ladies have on their bikes when they need to go to the supermarket or market to buy groceries. Such bicylebags were almost always from Kitsch Kitchen. So absurdly tacky, screaming colours and old fashioned patterns. I was amazed that people actually could have the courage to buy that.

Then more and more products of Kitsch Kitchen were present in magazines such as VT Wonen, Ariadne At Home and others. Holland was in love with Kitsch Kitchen. Me too. Later I discovered in a magazine a brief article about the origins of the brand. It seems that all started when the owner decided - during a vacation trip to Nicaragua... or Guatemala ? -to buy local old fashioned plastic to resell in Holland during a Kitchen Fair. The other exhibitors laughed about her tablecloth rolls. She laughed louder: since then (1994), her success has never stopped.

What I like about Kitsch Kitchen is the sense of humor amplified to the maximum. Umbrellas with roses or flamingo patterns, plastic cups full of polka dots, table covers with flashy, bizarre combinations. Everything colourful and cheerful. People using these products have a bold personality. They make me laugh and brighten up my day.

Soon, I am going to a hairdresser in Amsterdam near to the "Supermercado" in the Rozengracht and my new acquisitions have to be a crazy umbrella full of frogs and one of these ricesacks below:


Products from Kitsch Kitchen are sold in 27 countries. In Brazil you find it in Coisas da Doris, and Firma Casa (SP). If you wish to know more about Kitsch Kitchen click here or go to the right side of this blog page to look for a link under the section "Dutch Sites".

Bike Saddle # 4

Oh, polka dots !

Check the site of Basil to see more models. I like the red with white polka dots and the blue flowered one (and my birthday is in May).

Food Horror

I spotted this book at the BRUNA.
I am a foodie and always interested in the bio-industrie, crazy E-letters on labels, pesticides, and food allergies, for example. This book has some shocking images and surprising facts.
"Everything that you never wanted to know about what really is in your food".

After going through some pages, you will never see food the same way again.

Available at Bruna and other bookstores. Price around 15euros.
A good "cadeau tip" for my birthday (he-he-he!)